Page View
Kaminski, John P.; Saladino, Gaspare J.; Leffler, Richard; Schoenleber, Charles H.; Hogan, Margaret A.; Reid, Jonathan M. (ed.) / Ratification of the Constitution by the states: New York (5)
23 (2009)
VII-A. Celebrations of New York ratification, 26 July-15 August 1788, pp. 2381-2426
Page 2381
VII. THE AFTERMATH OF RATIFICATION 25 July 1788-5 May 1789 VII-A. Celebrations of New York Ratification 26 July-15 August 1788 Newspapers reported on celebrations in twelve locations throughout New York: Albany, Ballstown, Dover, Flushing, Half Moon District (in Waterford), Hurley, New York City, Newburgh, Red Hook, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Smithtown. Spontaneous celebrations occurred in New York City and Newburgh on the evening of 26 July, while planned cele- brations occurred in the other places between 30 July and 15 August. Nine out-of-state celebrations were reported in Boston, New Brunswick (N.J.), Newport, Philadelphia, Plymouth (Mass.), Portsmouth (N.H.), Providence, Springfield, and Wilmington (N.C.). These celebrations were characterized by flags and banners, illumi- nated houses, bonfires, militia parades, cannon, musket, and rocket firings, bell ringing, orations and addresses, and processions of trades- men, craftsmen, religious leaders, professional men, and public offi- cials. Impressive bowers and colonnades were constructed, and elegant dinners were held at which eleven or thirteen toasts were drunk often with American beer and cider. Dancing was also featured. On the day after the Half Moon District's celebration, the women of the district, joined by women from Lansingburgh, held a celebratory procession in Waterford. The elaborate celebration in Albany mimicked the federal procession held in New York City on 23 July. Violence erupted in only one place. When news of ratification ar- rived in New York City at night on 26 July, a mob gathered and marched through the streets intimidating the occupants of the houses of the leading Antifederalists, and some of the mob ransacked the printing office of Antifederalist printer Thomas Greenleaf and destroyed his type. Albany, Albany County 8 August 1788 See also Abraham G. Lansing to Abraham Yates, Jr., 3 August 1788 (RCS:N.Y, 2444). 2381
Copyright 2009 Wisconsin Historical Society Press.| For information on re-use see: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Copyright